Movie Pictures

I know Citizen Kane gets bandied about the whole time as the greatest film ever made and it's debatable that such an accolade is even valid. However the Gregg Toland's Cinematography still holds up today. Some of the framing is just startling (I was trying to find a shot of Kane in the Bathroom: His face taking up half the screen in extreme closeup while the background was also in full focus but couldn't find it). You see a shot like that today and it would still jar. Still looks uncomfortable (Scorsese used a similar trick extensively in Cape Fear [EXAMPLE HERE])
The use of focus and extreme camera angles is still very different and cool while not dating the movie to a particular period. Think of the very dated style of American and British movies of the 60's and 70's.
Look at the way your eye is drawn to the three characters in the scene even though the person furthest back is so small. Amazing shot:

For the weekend that's in it... gorgeous lighting in Empire Strikes Back.

The Graduate

Jake the Muss with his Mrs in Once We're Warriors
Great film for anyone who hasn't seen it, would have it in my top 10

Mulholland Drive

and another

Sticking with the expansive shots. I remember seeing Superman on TV when I was a kid and loving the bits on the farm. I actually preferred the early scenes: The wide shots of the midwest countryside, the gentle tone (I still do). It's a great way of demonstrating the good natured and honest upbringing he received. Sure, it may be a bit corny (no pun intended) but it was easily understandable to a 9 year old boy watching. I actually lost interest when Superman came to Metropolis.

Yo Adrian, I did it .

Planes,Trains and Automobiles.

Old Frankenstein

From my most favourite film of all time - Tarkovskys Stalker, 1979...

Before Peter Jackson went almost 100% green screen for his Hobbit films remember how he stunned everyone with the beauty of New Zealand. The Edoras outdoor set was amazing. Built on Maori land, as part of the agreement, it had to be removed and the land left as if untouched after filming. You could fill this thread with beautiful New Zealand scenery but I just loved the introduction of Edoras.

Another example of Christopher Nolan's amazing cinematography choices. From the Dark Knight. For all the amazing Imax footage and full scale practical effects (The amazing truck flip later) the introduction of The Joker at the very start of The Dark Knight told you everything you needed to know: This was not the dapper crime lord at the top of the chain in an expensive tailored suit. This was as far removed from Nicholson and Romero's Jokers as you could get: The hunched shoulders, the greasy hair and disheveled suit. The mask held carelessly in his hand. The very fact that he's on the street waiting to be picked up. You can see that this guy is not there to make as much money as possible. This guy is there purely for the addictive chaos element of the heist.
Sure, this is expressed more blatantly later on (Especially in his scene in the hospital with Harvey Dent) but you can gather that from this single intro shot without a word of dialogue or even seeing his face. Amazing intro.

Kubrick's Barry Lyndon was on TV over Xmas - one of the most beautifully shot films ever (much of it filmed in Ireland). Each scene is like a classic painting, with Kubrick often starting scenes in close up before gradually zooming out to reveal the full picture. Many of the indoor scenes were shot using candlelight on special low-light lenses developed by NASA.

American Psycho:


War of the Worlds:

.